CAA CHAMPIONS! University of Delaware Field Hockey Garners Third CAA Championship With 5-1 Win Over Northeastern

NEWARK, Del. – As was the story all season, the No. 17 University of Delaware field hockey produced an outstanding offensive and defensive attack as the top-seed Blue Hens defeated third-seeded Northeastern, 5-1, Sunday afternoon at Rullo Stadium to capture the 2013 Colonial Athletic Association Championship.

Delaware (16-4, 6-0 CAA) received goals from five different players and six assists in total were recorded for the Blue Hens.

On the defensive end, senior goalie Sarah Scher (Pocomoke City, Md.) collected four saves in the win over the Huskies. Scher was named the Tournament Most Outstanding Player after tallying 12 total saves while allowing just three goals.

Senior Kasey Prettyman (Newark, Del.) added just over two minutes later, with a tip-in on a penalty corner to give UD the 2-0 advantage. Hartman and sophomore Michaela Patzner (Rosenheim, Germany) tallied assists on the play.

Redshirt freshman Maddie O’Beirne(Vienna, Va.) put the Hens up, 3-0, off of another penalty corner in the 18th minute. Patzner and Peet picked up the assists for UD.

With less than 30 seconds until halftime, freshman Meghan Winesett (Centreville, Va.) sent an unassisted rocket in to the goal from 15 yards dead-on to take the 4-0 lead.

The Blue Hens gathered their final goal of the day in the 57th minute as Patzner put in a rebound shot 12 yards out.

Northeastern (8-13) captured its lone goal of the day in the 63rd minute as senior Lindsay Bennett received the ball from Zoe Kale about a yard out and was able to sneak the ball past Scher in the left corner.

With the win, Delaware garnered its third CAA Championship in program history and the first since the 2009 season. The Blue Hens earn the automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history.

Delaware will learn its opponent for the NCAA Tournament this evening during the Selection Show, slated for 10 p.m. A live broadcast will be available at NCAA.com.

POST-GAME QUOTESHead Coach Rolf van de Kerkhof– “This was an incredible team effort once again. We’ve been doing this for the entire season and we know to work together and take it one round at a time. We remained very poised and took care of business one play at a time. This is a great group of players that feed the ball to each other, assist each other and score goals for each other. We play defense as a team and offense as a team. If we stick to our game plan, we have a chance to be very competitive and perhaps very dangerous.”

[On Sarah Scher]: Sarah has continued to grow over her career and especially this season as a senior, she has helped us tremendously. Hands down she is our MVP in both the semifinals and championship game. You have to have a good goalie to have a chance to win and we are very fortunate to have Sarah on our side.”

Senior goalie and tri-captain Sarah Scher– “This is amazing. We came out so strong today and as a team, our main thing was to come out 23 strong for tournament play and we did just that. Everybody came out and executed and that’s all you can ask for. I’ve always had my teammates to support me and keep me going every single day, so I have everybody to share this MVP award with. We usually say that you can celebrate until midnight and then move on, but I’m celebrating until practice on Tuesday and then we’ll start with something new and fresh. Until then, I don’t think I can celebrate until just midnight tonight.”

Senior tri-captain Kasey Prettyman – “I’m speechless right now. I’ve been preparing the last four years for this and it’s unreal. All of the sprints and hard practices that made you want to quit; it’s all worth it right now. As seniors, if we had lost today, it would have been our last game ever. Everything is paying off and I’m just happy to continue this journey.”

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMSarah Scher, Delaware – Most Outstanding PlayerMeghan Winesett, DelawareMichaela Patzner, DelawareKasey Prettyman, DelawareLindsay McArdle, DrexelLauren Hibshman, DrexelLindsay Bennett, NortheasternNatalie Stewart, NortheasternBecky Garner, NortheasternJesse Ebner, William & MaryChaney Manganello, William & MaryHEN SCRATCHINGS · Delaware tied the single-season win record with 16 wins this season. UD previously hit this mark in 1978, 1982 and 1988. · The Hens have outscored the last six opponents, 28-4. · UD has won a season-best seven straight games. · Delaware is 84-61 (.579) all-time at Rullo Stadium, including finishing with a 10-1 season this year. · Michaela Patzner leads the Hens with 40 points off of 16 goals and eight assists. Her 40 points is good for fifth in Delaware single-season history. The 16 goals is good for seventh in a single-season. · Patzner has scored at least one point in the last seven contests. · Esmée Peet is second on the team with 30 points on 12 goals and six assists. Her 30 points is a single-season record for a Delaware freshman. · Meghan Winesettleads Delaware with nine assists, a new program record for a freshman. · Dating to last season, senior goalie Sarah Scher has started 25 straight games for Delaware. She has played all 1403:05 minutes for the Blue Hens this season and has collected 91 saves with 28 goals allowed. Scher is 11th in Delaware history with 178 career saves. Stephanie Judefind (1999-02) is 10th all-time with 212 saves. · Heather Hartman now has 17 career assists, a mark good to tie for 12th all-time with Lauren Baugher(1992-95) and Kelly Coyle(1999-02).UPCOMING SCHEDULE · Saturday, Nov. 16 – NCAA First Round – Location/Opponent TBA · Sunday, Nov. 17 – NCAA Second Round – Location/Opponent TBA · Friday, Nov. 22 – NCAA Semifinals – Opponent TBA – L.R. Hill Sports Complex (Old Dominion University; Norfolk, Va.) · Sunday, Nov. 24 – NCAA Finals – Opponent TBA – L.R. Hill Sports Complex (Old Dominion University; Norfolk, Va.)